Circuit-closing means for fire-alarms.



H. W. GUTHRIEA CIRCUIT CLOSING MEANS FOR'FIRE ALARMS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE24. 191e.

1,242, 178. Patented 0er. 9, 1917.

Inventor Attorneys HARLEY W. GUTHBIE, OF ELMOBE, OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING MEANS FOR FIRE-ALARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application led June 24, 1916. Serial No. 105,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLEY W. GUTHRIE, a citizen of the United States, residin at Elmore, in the county of Ottawa and tate of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Circuit-Closing Means for Fire-Alarms, of'

which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to alarm apparatus, and aims to provide a novel and improved circuit closing means for an electrical alarm apparatus for dwellings, oliices, banks, and other buildings, whereby if the building catches lire, the apparatus is operable for producing a prolonged or continuous operation of the bell or other signal.l y

It is also the object of the invention to provide an alarm apparatus having the characteristics above noted and which isexceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be readily installed in various buildings, and -which will serve its olice in a thoroughly practical and reliable manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without de arting from the spirit of the invention.

' arI `he inventionaisgillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein'* Flgure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a room illustrating the apparatus applied, said apparatus being illustrated diagrammatically in said figure.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view ofthe wiring of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical vlew of a modification.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portlon 'of the main and secondary conductors showing how they are assembled.

In carrying out the invention, there 1s provided a air of insulated main conductors 1 of su ciently large (gage to properly carry the current, and sai conductors are preferably inter-twisted in the manner of an ordinary electrical cord. The conductors 1 can be covered by any suitable heavy insulation, whereby to prevent short circuits occurring at any point between the ends of said conductors. These conductors can be extended along or behind the mop boards, picture molding, window and door casings or frames, or the like,"`s`o as to be concealed from view, and said conductors can be extended to various parts of the building where fires are apt to occur. Certain terminals of the conductors l are disconnected and spaced apart while the other terminals are connected in series with an electric bell. or other signal 2, a battery 3 and a controlling switch 4, whereby when the circuit is closed between the conductors 1, the switch 4 being closed during working conditions, the bell or signal 2 will be operated b`y current supplied by the battery 3. If desired branch conductors or leaders 5 can be connected to the conductors 1, and normally open switches 6 are associated with the terminals of the conductors -5 and are ap lied to the windows, doors, and other barriers of the building which are liable to be opened by burglars or trespassers during the night time, although the apparatus can be used for giving a signal should a certain window or door` be opened at any time whatever. As illustrated, one switch 6 is applied to the window W, and another switch 6 is applied to a door D, and said switches are so constructed, that when the window or door is opened,

the circuit is closed momentarily to give a short signal, which will indicate that the window or door has been opened, and this enables an investigation to be made. The switches 6 are arranged in parallel, whereby when any switch is closed, it will connect the respective conductors 5 which in being attached to the opposite conductors l i will close the circuit through the bell and battery. The conductors 5 can be tapped in on the conductors 1 at various points of said main conductors.

A cardinal feature of the invention resides in the combination with the main conductors 1 of secondary or auxiliary conductors 7 for purpose of fire protection. The

conductors 7 are constructed of wire of fine gage, preferably of copper, and are provided with thin insulation of silk or equivalent combustible material, while the secondary conductors themselves are fusible in the presence of flames, while the main conductors l are not. The secondary conductors are extended parallel with one another longitudinally side by side along and contiguous to the main conductors l where lire is liable to occur, and said conductors 7 are attached at intervals with the main conductors 1, as seen in Fig. 2, whereby the conductors 7 are parallel with the main conductors and provide series of shunts for the v main conductors. The conductors 7 are disposed contiguous to one another and are preferably wrapped around the conductors 1, as seen in Fi 4. Should a fire occur near the quadrup e-wire cord, the insulation of conductors 7 will be burned off and said conductors will be fused together or brought in contact, thereby providing a bridge between the main conductors 1, for closin the alarm circuit. The conductors 7 nee not be of large gage, and due to the short spans orshunts formed by the conductors 7, it will be noted that the c1rcuit when closed in case of fire includes but a short length of the conductors 7. The spans or shunts are of short length, due to the fact that the conductors 7 are secured to the main conductors 1 at intervals, whereby when the conductors 7 are fused at any point thereof, the current need only traverse a short length of the conductors 7, following the course of least resistance. When the circuit is closed between the conductors 7, the circuit will remain closed-until opened manually, and this will provide for a prolonged or continued signal, givin a warning of fire.

From t e foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be obvious that by the connection of the conductorsv 5 and 7 with the main conductors 1, the apparatus-is rendered particularly effective for providin a 'signal when the switches .6 areclosed, an a continued signal in case of fire, usin the same conductors 1 as the main part o the circuit in both cases. The conductors 7 need not be co-extensive `in len h with the 'conductors l, butl can be provi ed at such points only as desired, where there is a posslbility that a fire may occur if at all. l

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, an additional main conductor 1 is used in conjunction with the conductors 1, whereby the switches 6 are rendered inoperative during the day time or at such tlmes when a burglar alarm is not wanted or desirable. The bell 2, battery 3 and switch 4 are connected in series with the conductors 1 as above described, and the conductor 1 is V connected in series with the bell 2, battery 3 and one conductor 1, said conductor 1 bein provided with a secondary switch 4 whic can be opened when a burglar alarm is not desired. The conductors 5 are connected to the conductor l and that conductor 1 with which the conductor 1, bell 2 and battery 3 are connected in circuit. Thus, in case of fire, the conductors 7 being. fused and connected, will close the circuit between the conductors 1, whereas if a switch 6 is closed, the alarm circuit is closed between the conductor l and the respective conductor 1. When the switch 4 is opened, it is evident that no signal will be 'ven when any of the switches 6 is closed. ith this form of the invention, it is only necessar to extend an additional main conductor a ong the other conductors, and to change the connection of one conductor 5 Vof each pair, said conductor 1 being properly connected with the bell and battery.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: l. Circuit closing means for fire alarm apparatus embodying a pair of adjacent main conductors insulated from each other to prevent short circuits therebetween, .and vfusible conductors contiguous to, extending longitudinally side by side along and connected at intervals to the main conductors and adapted to fuse together for electrically connectingthe main conductors in the event of an abnormal increase in temperature.

2. Circuit closin means for fire alarm apparatus embodyin a pair of adjacent main conductors insu ated from each other to prevent short circuits therebetween, fusible conductors contiguous to, extending longitudinally side by side along and connected at intervals to the main conductors to provide series of short shunts for each of the main conductors, and combustible insulation separating the fusible conductors, said fusible conductors being adapted to be fused together in the event of abnormal increase in temperature for closing the circuit between the main conductors.

3. Circuit closing means for fire alarm apparatus embodying a pairscffadjacent' to provide short for the main eon- In testimon that I claim the foregoing duotors, and combustible insulation se aas my own, I ave hereto aiixed my s1gnarating the fusible conductors, the fusi le ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

conductors being adapted to be fused to- HARLEY W. GUTHRIE. 6 ether by abnormal increase in temperature Witnesses:

or electrically connecting the main conduc- JOHN W. TRUMAN,

tors. RUDOLF E. Wmnm'r. 

